Mock drafts

[2wins87]

Now that the college and high school seasons are well underway we can start paying more attention to mock drafts.  They are probably not super predictive yet, but can at least give us an idea of who could actually be available.

Most recently, MLB.com put out a first round: https://www.mlb.com/news/first-mlb-mock-draft-2023, and individual top ten mocks by Callis and Mayo: https://www.mlb.com/news/pipeline-predicts-top-picks-2023-mlb-draft?t=mlb-draft-coverage

FWIW, the Twins end up with Max Clark in the first round Mock and in Callis's mock, and Mayo has Langford falling.

There seems to be a consensus top 5 developing in the industry, with Crews and Skenes probably gone but Langford or one of the top HS outfielders ending up with the Twins.

In the second half of the first round, their mock has a bit of a run on high schoolers.  There seems to be around 2 dozen high schoolers with legitimate first round aspirations this year, so it's not hard to see that happening, though as their bonus demands become more clear, some will drop out due to being more or less unsignable.

There are two thoughts that I have on how this dynamic could play out.

1) There could be a few big college bats, e.g. Brock Wilken, that fall out of the first round and are available to the Twins in their comp and/or 2nd round pick.  Given their history, I could see the Twins jumping at a good college bat there.

2) If they save some money with their first pick, they could make a run at one or maybe two of the high school prospects in that late-first-round tier.

Probably #1 is more likely, or many of the high schoolers end up going to college, but the second and third picks by the Twins could be very interesting and talented this year.

[Musk21]

Not a mock draft I guess, but The Athletic just released an article from Keith Law with his top 50 draft prospects (subscription required):

https://theathletic.com/4479404/2023/05/05/mlb-draft-ranking-crews-langford-players/

[2wins87]

21 hours ago, Musk21 said:

Not a mock draft I guess, but The Athletic just released an article from Keith Law with his top 50 draft prospects (subscription required):

https://theathletic.com/4479404/2023/05/05/mlb-draft-ranking-crews-langford-players/

Teel at #6 is interesting. He's definitely been moving up boards everywhere but I don't think he's been in the top 10 elsewhere.

I wonder if he could end up being the potential discount pick at #5. Probably not too much of a discount wherever he ends up though.

[2wins87]

MLB Pipeline and Keith Law have new mocks this week and both have Wyatt Langford going to the Twins at #5.

I have to think Langford falling into their laps at #5 would be an ideal scenario for them given what we know about how they like to draft.  Law also mentions rumors that they are looking at Jacob Gonzalez and Jacob Wilson and might not be particularly into the HS bats at #5.  I'd take that just as presented, a rumor, but interesting enough to mention.

After 28 picks the best players from the consensus boar left in the MLB draft are: Brock Wilken, Jack Hurley, Chase Davis, George Lombard, Colton Ledbetter, Roch Cholowsky, and Dylan Head

After 30 picks for Keith Law the best available are: Brock Wilken, Thomas White, Jack Hurley, Chase Davis, Yohandy Morales, Walker Martin, and Charlee Soto.  I kind of doubt that a couple teams won't want to take a shot at the #2/3 HS pitchers in the first round, but there is enough depth in the draft that it's the scenario Law came up with.

Both have some big college bats left after the first round.  The names could change, but it seems like one of them could be a very likely taget at #34.  This especially makes me hope they aren't actually that gun shy over the HS guys at #5.  I think they will have a shot at a college bat that they will probably really like at #34.

There are also some very intriguing HS position players left in each mock, so if they get Langford I would hope there might be a HS player they really like there.

[Jocko87]

Langford failing their laps would be my ideal as well.  The signability questions will be the big thing to watch, its always the MLB draft surprise.  There is no telling whats being said behind the scenes.  I'm intrigued by Laws comments about HS bats and looking at shortstops, I'll take that as confirmation bias of my earlier stated opinions!  I'm completely out on the two lefty HS bats. 

[Mike Sixel]

Given their past, there is almost a zero percent chance they don't take him if he's there.